The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, briefed the nation on the investigation into electoral violence that occurred during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
Here are the key points from the briefing :
Number of Incidents and Casualties: The special investigative task force identified 12 cases of violence, resulting in 15 deaths and over 40 injuries across the country.
Suspects Identified and Arrested: A total of 21 suspects were identified, with four currently on police bail, five on remand, and warrants issued for the arrest of the remaining suspects.
Causes of Violence: The investigation revealed that most incidents involved the use of firearms by supporters of the two major political parties and, in some cases, by security personnel deployed to maintain order. Specifically, armed police patrol teams were responsible for three incidents, resulting in four deaths, while military personnel were responsible for three other cases, leading to the deaths of three persons.
Recommendations: The report recommends compensation for the families of the deceased and those who suffered injuries. Additionally, it suggests that the use of live ammunition in crowd control should be limited and that security agencies should receive better training to handle electoral operations.
Prosecution: The Interior Minister has directed the Inspector-General of Police to start prosecuting individuals who engaged in violence during the elections. Eleven new dockets have been built on the cases, and some suspects are currently standing trial.
Government’s Commitment: The government remains committed to ensuring accountability for all election-related deaths and to strengthening coordination between security agencies during electoral operations. The Interior Minister emphasized that every violent incident recorded during the general election presents various criminal offenses committed by different persons involved.
The briefing aims to provide transparency and update the public on the progress of the investigation and prosecution of electoral violence cases.
